Smoke stick



Oct. 26, 1937. sTlMBRA 2,097,050

SMOKE STICK Filed Sept. 28, 1936 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES (PATENT QFFlCE John Hans Stimbra, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 28, 1936, Serial No. 102,891

3 Claims.

This invention relates to smoke sticks commonly employed to support strings of frankfurters in smokehouses during smoking operations.

At the present time it is common practice to avail of an ordinary stick about 3 feet in length, which extends between two trees over which strings of frankfurters are hung, Due to the contact of the frankfurters with the sticks, there are spots of the frankiurters which remain uncured. As a result, after the frankfurters have been removed from the smokehouse, a day or two later those portions which have engaged the stick have a tendency to turn green, which condition materially impairs the salability of the product.

With the foregoing condition in mind, this invention has in view, as its foremost objective, the provision of a smoke stick which is intended to be used as a support for strings of frankfurters in smokehouses, and which sticks will support the frankfurters, and, at the same time, insure of a proper cooking and curing of those portions of the frankfurters which engage and contact with the smoke stick.

In carrying out this objective, this invention contemplates an arrangement in which the smoke stick comprises a tubular member which is perforated so as to provide what is, in effect, an open meshwork. When the frankfurters are hung over this tubular member, the smoke and heat are rendered effective through the openings to properly cure those portions of the frankfurters which engage the smoke stick.

A somewhat more detailed object of the invention lies in the provision of a smoke stick of the character described, in which the openings in the tubular member are so arranged as to provide a meshwork which is open to a very high degree. In attaining this objective, the shell of the tubular member is provided with a plurality of large circular openings between which are disposed smaller rectangular openings. The particular relationship of the circular openings to the rectangular openings is such as to insure of a high degree of openness in the meshwork of the tubular smoke stick.

Other more detailed objects and advantages will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a smoke stick which consists of a tubular member formed with a plurality of circular perforations between (Cl. 17-44A) which are interspersed rectangular openings defining open meshwork.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, 5

wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blank of metal which is perforated prior to rolling into tubular form,

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of a finished smoke stick, and

Figure 3 is a side elevational showing, with the central portion broken away.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, there is shown in Figure 1 a sheet of metal which is identified by the reference character H). In manufacturing a smoke stick in accordance with this invention, the sheet of metal I0 is perforated to provide a plurality of large circular openings I l and a plurality of smaller rectangular openings l2. It is notable that the rectangular openings I2 are so arranged that the points enter closely between the circular openings, this to insure of as great an open effect as possible.

Along each edge of the blank sheet 10 a plu-' rality of triangular openings I3 are formed, and are intended to lie along the seam of the finished product. At each end smaller openings l4 are provided to facilitate in positioning brackets.

The perforated sheet of metal depicted in Figure 1 is rolled into tubular formation with the edges along which the triangular openings l3 are located defining a seam, represented at IS. A bracket indicated at I6 is located at each end of the stick, and extends across the unperforated portion which is represented at ll. Rivets indicated at l8 extend through the brackets I6 and the openings l4, and serve to anchor the brackets securely in position.

The unperforated portions I! are designed to engage a supporting tree which is located at each end of the stick while the perforated portion receives the strings of frankfurters which are hung thereover during the smoking operations. It is evident that the smoke and heat are rendered effective on those portions of the frankfurters which engage the smoke stick through the perfo- 5 rations.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that I am not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and de- 56 scribed, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A smoke stick of the character described, comprising a tubular member formed with a plurality of large circular openings between which are interspersed a plurality of rectangular openmgs.

2. A smoke stick of the character described, comprising a tubular member having a seam, a plurality of large circular openings, and a plurality of triangular openings'located along the seam.

3. A smoke stick of the character described, comprising a tubular member formed with a seam, brackets extending across the seam to maintain the tubular formation, the tubular member being formed with small triangular openings along the seam and with a plurality of large circular openings throughout the remainder of the tubular member, there being small rectangular openings interspersed among the large circular openings.

JOHN HANS STIMBRA. 

